Construction of wrist splints



Dec. l5, 1931. R. I EvlNsoN 1,836,475

CONSTRUCTION OF WRIST SPLINTS Filed Aug. 27, 1928 *qualita- PatentedDec. 15, 1931 UNITEDl ISTATES .PATENT orifice CONSTRUCTION F WRIST`SPLINTS Appiieaiion ined August 27, 192s, serial No. 302,392, and inGreat Britain April 17, 192s.

This invention relates to Wrist splints, more especially to Wristsplints of the Carr type. In the usual Carr splints the hand or fingergrip is fixedly mounted upon the head of 6 the splint at one sidethereof, the head of the splint being cut at an angle andthe splint beinrecessed or shaped at the side at Which the land or linger grip isprovided to accommodate the thenar eminence. Consequently, a splint forthe right hand cannot be used for the left hand and it is necessary thatboth right and left hand splints should be available as required.

The present invention has among its objects to provide an improvedconstruction of Wrist splint Which is equally efective for use eitherwith the right hand or With the left hand.

According to the invention a Wrist splint, which may be constructed asis usual of V- shaped cross-section, is recessed or shaped near the headon both sides for the accommodation of the thenar eminence and the handor finger grip of suitable form is fitted upon the head of the splint insuch manner that it may be disposed at one side or the other thereof asrequired for use With the right hand or with the left hand. Thus, thehand or finger grip may be hinged to the head of the splint in anysuitable manner or may be otherwise attached thereto so that its bereversed from one side to the other. The splint is preferablyconstructed: of Wood, but may be constructed of any other suitablesubstance.

The invention is hereinafter described by way of example With referenceto the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in Whichz Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a construction of Wrist splint according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-section on the line 2 2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing the hand orfinger grip turned into a position at one side of the splint;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating a modification g andposition with respect to the splint may Figure 5 is a similar viewillustrating afurther modification.

ln carrying the invention into effect according to one construction andWith reference to Figures l, 2 and 3 ot the accompanying diagrammaticdrawings, the splint maybe constructed of wood and the main part athereof may be of triangular cross-section as indicated in Figure Whilethe khead or front part ot the splint may be cut away or shaped at eachside to form a recess a adapted for the reception of 'the thenareminence, the oppositefacc's of the reduced part of the splint being',for one mple, substantially parallel. The head or front part of thesplint is cut at an angle in the usual manner and a hand or finger gripis hinged upon the inclined end of the splint so that it may be swungfrom one side to the other as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3. Inthe construction illustrated continuous hinge member c, formed bybending a strip of sheet metal, is inserted into a slot a2 in the heador liront end o'f the splint and, if necessary, is held therein by meanssnch as screws ci extending transversely through the splint andtliroi'igh corresponding holes in the hinge member c. A length of stoutWire adapted to be received Within the hinge member c is bent so thatits ends Z are parallel disposed and at riO'ht angles to the hinge,theends Z being driven or other- Wise fired into the hand or finger grip sothat thus the latter is hingedly mounted upon the head or front end ofthe splinta. Preferably, the hinge connection is so arranged that whenkthe hand or finger grip b is moved to aposition at one side of thesplint, it comes into contact with the adjacent surface of the reducedpart of the splint so as to be firmly supported against the tensionimposed when the hand or finger grip is engaged by the hand or fingersin use.

In an alternative construction, as illustrated in Figure 4, the hingehereinbeiiore described may be replaced by a flat strip e of rigid,flexible, resilient or readily bent material fitted into slotsrespectively in the hand or finger grip Y) and in the head or front endof the splint (L being secured in position Within the slots, ifrequired, by means such as screws. ln the case in which the strip isprovided of rigid material it is initially bent to the cross-sectionalform shown in the drawing, the position of the hand or finger grip beingreversed by withdrawing the strip e from engagement with the slot inthel splint a, turning the hand or finger grip Z) over end for end andreinserting the strip c into the slot in the splint. lVhen the strip eis constructed of flexible, resilient or readily bent material, it maybe permanently fixed in the respective slots, it being understood thatin this case the strip e serves as a hinge.

According to a further modification, as illustrated in Figure 5, theinclined head or end of the splint e may be fitted with a transversestip extending laterally beyond the lateral of the head of the splintand formed at its edges with beads f, flanges or the like adapted toengage with corresponding slot or `recess in the hand or Ger grip Lib h7) which thus may be applied at one side or the other of the he( .d bysliding upwardly or downwardly into position. The flanges f and .thecorresponding slot in the hand or finger grip '5 ma;T be slightlytapered or other means maybe provided to avoid relative axial move mentof the parts when the splint is Ain use. Any equivalent arrangement ofslidably en gaging parts may be provided.

lt will be understood that any other suitable construction of hinge'orreversible connection between the hand or linger grip and the splint maybe provided.

lVhat we claim is l. A wrist splint comprising a splint ineinber shapedon both sides for application alternatively to the right hand or to theleft hand, and having its forward edge cut at an angle, said angularedge having a slot, a hand grip, a sheet metal hinge member fitted intothe slot in the edge of the splint, and means including a stout wirethrough the hinge member and having its ends bent to engage with thesaid hand grip to enable the latter to be disposed on either one of theopposite side surfaces of the. splint as required.

2..A wrist splint including a splint'mem- .ber shaped on the oppositesurfacesl to adapt one surface-for use with the right hand and the othersurface for use with the left hand, a hand grip, and means to connectthe hand grip with the splint member to enable the hand grip to bebodily moved to a position:

wholly above and in substantial Contact with either surface of thesplint member selected for use. y

3. A wrist splint` including a splint member shaped on the oppositesurfaces to adapt one surface for use with the right hand and the othersurface for use with the lefthand,

a hand grip, and means' to connect the hand grip ata fixed angle and forbodily movement relative to the splint member, said means pro- `beingcut4 away. to present ar section of Vnal median :5t-ending viding forcomlete bodily movement of the hand grip to a position above and insubstantial contact with a selected surface of the member whilemaintaining the predetermined aiigular relation with such member.

1l. A wrist splint including a splint member shaped on the opposite.surfaces to adapt one surface for use with-the right', hand and theother surface for use with the left hand, a hand grip, and a hingeconnecting the hand grip withV the splintvmember to enable the hand gripto be bodily moved to a position wholly above and'in substantial contactwith either surface of the splint member selected for use.

5. A wrist splint including a splintmember shaped on the oppositesurfaces to adapt-- one surface foruse withithe right hand and the othersurface for use with the left hand, a hand grip, and an element fixed tothe endy of the splint member and formed at its-respective endswithmeans to cooperate with. and support the hand gripsaid `element havingits respective` ends arranged beyond-the respective surfaces ofv thesplint member whereby with the hand otrip in cooperation with aparticular end or such element, the hand grip is disposed wholly aboveand in substantial contact .with the selected surface of the member.

G. A wrist splint including a splint mem ber having the-main portion ofVits length of substantially triangulai` form in cross sec-` tion, theforward. portion of the member substantially uniform thickness throughits width, the free edge ofsuch cut-away'portionA being inclined withrespect to the/"longitudiline of the' member,` and* hand grip, .andmeans conneetinglthe hand grip to said inclined edge of the membertoaprovide for bodily movement of the hand gripto laposition above andsubstantially. in Contact with the member adjacent such inclined edgewhile maintaining the angular relation between the handgrip and member.

ln testimony whereof l have hereunto signed my name.

REUBEN LEVINSON.

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